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SPORTS

Students seek support to create new NU golf club

By Craig Cashman
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

After years without a competitive golf team, Norwich students look to "hit the links" by showing greater interest in reintroducing golf as a sport to the school.

“I played four years in high school, and I would love to play some in college,” said Jeff Thomas, 20, a junior Business Management major from Colorado Springs, Colo.

There are many problems that come with establishing a competitive golf team at Norwich. The major one is the short season
brought about by the freezing winters extending into the spring. For a school to compete at the NCAA Div. III level, there are certain requirements that must be met, and Vermont winters would surely impede on match play.

“The minimum contest is seven, and the minimum participants is five,” said Tony Mariano, N.U. Athletic Director. “We got around it, before, because we could go to Middlebury and have three other teams there. That would count as three matches. Now, they go by the date of matches.”

An NU golf team would more than likely compete in the fall, because the local course at the Northfield Country Club does not open until April 15, making it hard to plan matches and carry out practices.

Many students at NU have expressed interest in a potential golf team. However, a number of students claim that they lose interest in the sport while at Norwich because of the harsh winters.

“Being in the Northeast, usually by mid-October it starts to cool down, and it comes to the point that when you hit the golf ball, it feels like you’re hitting a rock,” said Andrew Ready, 20, a junior criminal justice major from Biddeford, Maine. “At that point, it’s not fun, anymore.”

While the snow-filled, cold winters drive some students away from golf, others maintain that golf would be a great addition to the university, possibly as an established club rather than a varsity sport.

“I would join,” said Greg Sommers, 20, a junior Architecture major from Quincy, Mass. “I love to play golf, but I get a little angry at it, so I would rather play club.”

The Student Activities office is willing to cooperate with and work with students to start a golf club. They hope to broaden their involvement within the university and supply them with what they need in order to play the game.

“If there is any interest at all, I have no qualms with starting a golf club and then getting those who are interested to visit many of the beautiful courses throughout the states of Vermont, New Hampshire, and even Maine,” said Chan Stowell, NU Director of Student Activities.

Those students interested in playing golf at the Northfield Country Club can get membership rates at $233.20, valid anytime from April 15 through October 15.

The Norwich Guidon is a twice-monthly student newspaper distributed at Norwich University. It provides laboratory experience for students in the Communications program. Claims asserted by letter writers, editorials and other articles do not represent the positions of Norwich University. The Norwich Guidon welcomes signed letters to the editor. They should be no longer than 300 words. Unsigned letters will not be printed, but names may be withheld upon worthy request. All letters are subject to editing for length and good taste. Mailing address: The Norwich Guidon, Communications Center, Norwich University, 158 Harmon Dr, Northfield, VT 05663. www.norwich.edu/guidon.